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Executive and Legislative documents laid before the General Assembly of North-Carolina [1871; 1872]

1871-72.] Document No. (?. ^
all the arts, is largely dependent upon a knowledge of botany
and eliemistry. Indeed what the application of steam has done
for the productive power of labor, the natural sciences may do
for the productive power of the soil.
In the midst of this progress, this career of mind, evry North
Carolinian must feel that his State needs not only a better
system of common schools, but also faciHties for higher educa-tion.
To give up the educational interests of the State now
would be a virtual abandonment of all hope for the future
prosperity of the State.
I have just received a letter from an intelligent gentleman
In the western part of the State, who has been connected with
high official and educational interests for a quarter of a century.
I trust he will pardon the publication of an extract from it, as
it presents, to some extent, a representative view of the subject
of which it treats.
" Under tlie administration of Mr. Wiley, I was, to some
extent, connected with tliis branch of the public service, and
became profoundly interested in its success and its result. In
the changed condition of things the programme must be dif-ferent.
But under all the circumstances, the experiment will
he made. There can be no doubt, that a wise and well directed
system of popular education, will develope genius and make
the star of mind shine, wheresoever the God of nature has
planted it.
As to the African race, the results are doubtful ; but in this
age of the world, the experiment must be tried in goad faith.
While I think no system of instruction, will ever lift the Afri-can
to the high spheres of educated mind, yet let the role he
played outfairly ; and if the result should not be commensu-rate
with the demands of christian civilization, the error will
not be ours."
I will venture to suggest that the indifference and opposition
which have been manifested in many places, in regard to the
free schools, are due to the defects of the system, and not to the
system itself. The tax payer is unwilling to pay taxes for the

1871-72.] Document No. (?. ^
all the arts, is largely dependent upon a knowledge of botany
and eliemistry. Indeed what the application of steam has done
for the productive power of labor, the natural sciences may do
for the productive power of the soil.
In the midst of this progress, this career of mind, evry North
Carolinian must feel that his State needs not only a better
system of common schools, but also faciHties for higher educa-tion.
To give up the educational interests of the State now
would be a virtual abandonment of all hope for the future
prosperity of the State.
I have just received a letter from an intelligent gentleman
In the western part of the State, who has been connected with
high official and educational interests for a quarter of a century.
I trust he will pardon the publication of an extract from it, as
it presents, to some extent, a representative view of the subject
of which it treats.
" Under tlie administration of Mr. Wiley, I was, to some
extent, connected with tliis branch of the public service, and
became profoundly interested in its success and its result. In
the changed condition of things the programme must be dif-ferent.
But under all the circumstances, the experiment will
he made. There can be no doubt, that a wise and well directed
system of popular education, will develope genius and make
the star of mind shine, wheresoever the God of nature has
planted it.
As to the African race, the results are doubtful ; but in this
age of the world, the experiment must be tried in goad faith.
While I think no system of instruction, will ever lift the Afri-can
to the high spheres of educated mind, yet let the role he
played outfairly ; and if the result should not be commensu-rate
with the demands of christian civilization, the error will
not be ours."
I will venture to suggest that the indifference and opposition
which have been manifested in many places, in regard to the
free schools, are due to the defects of the system, and not to the
system itself. The tax payer is unwilling to pay taxes for the